ed, Leo sat cross-legged in front of a child-sized l

was a cleanly edited video clip: a crystal-clear, slow-motion replay of Kasey Mack's fo

he announced, satisfaction glowing in his voi

his head. "You did a great job, my lov

But your access path left a faint trail. Caden Sterling's cybersecurity team

g of commands scrolled across the screen, making Leo's eyes go wide. She didn't just hide his trail-she wiped it

. "Mom," he whispered,

ttal smile. She didn't need t

ked herbs from the building's rooftop garden. "Mommy,

inctive gift for healing. She had an uncanny understanding of plants and wh

ing in her chest. She took the herbs, mixed them with a salve from her

er her. Then came the familiar ache, sharp as a blade. Rhys. Was anyone holding him right now? Was

airport had uploaded a shaky cell-phone video. It wasn't as damning as Leo's edite

et was doi

arity angel'?" one top comment rea

erling's long line," another poste

uilt public image w

g it. She was screaming into her phone at her agent. "I want you to find out if Sterling Ind

re the institute was the point of entry. She had to

n settling in. "The public fired the first shot for us,"

ace serious. "You're going to fix my sickness, and the

forehead. "Yes, my

er, Caden listened without expression as his a

bored. "I don't want to see her nam

gate. Her file came through. Her name is Thea. She's a veterinarian from a small town i

esk, went still. "The institute?" He repeated it slowly. A slow, danger